The Boulevardier
Named after a Paris-based magazine run by an American in the 20s & 30s. The Boulevardier differs from the negroni in that you don’t use equal ratios - heavy on the whiskey is best. The thing to do is find a whiskey that apes the flavour of gin, so the obvious choice is rye or a spicier sort of bourbon.
Ingredients
Ice cubes
45ml bourbon or rye whiskey
30ml sweet vermouth
30ml Campari
Orange twist to garnish
Method
Fill an old-fashioned glass with cubed ice, and add all the ingredients. Stir for 10 seconds, then garnish with an orange twist.
Find more cocktails like this in the Cocktail dictionary.
Lychee Ginger Martini
The lychee pairs wonderfully with many flavours, from citrus to cranberry, but it’s also a surprising companion for ginger.
Ingredients
45ml lychee liqueur or syrup
45ml ginger vodka
45ml rosé
A lychee or lemon twist to garnish
Method
Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then garnish with a lychee or lemon twist.
To make your own Lychee Syrup check out how to make a simple syrup or if you need help making a Ginger Vodka have a look at how to infuse your favourite spirits.
Find more cocktails like this in Rosé made me do it.
Yangon Bluebird
This particular blue cocktail is based on the signature drink of the Pegu Club - a colonial drinking establishment set up for British expats in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma. In spite of its ridiculous colour, this cocktail is actually a very serious-tasting drink, with a tongue-scraping hit of citrus and a clean martini finish.
Ingredients
60ml London dry gin
22ml blue curacao
22ml freshly squeezed lime juice
8ml simple syrup
1 dash of Angostura bitters
1 dash of orange bitters
A grapefruit twist to garnish
Method
Fill a shaker with ice and pour in the gin, blue curacao, lime juice and simple syrup. Add a dash each of Angostura and orange bitters and shake together. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Find more cocktails like this in Gin made me do it.
The Keith Haring
Inspired by artist Keith Haring this cocktail is a sweet and bubbly combination that is bright and hopeful much like Haring's iconic radiant baby.
Ingredients
30ml Giffard Mangalore
15ml amaretto
15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
15ml gin
1 brandied cherry, for garnish
Pear cider to top off
Method
Combine the Mangalore, amaretto, lemon juice, and gin in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a Champagne flute with a cherry at the bottom and top with pear cider.
Find more cocktails like this in Art Boozel.
Chocolate Negroni
This deliciously decadent drink is the brainchild of Naren Young, who serves it at his New York City outpost Dante. It takes the basic negroni - a naturally bitter drink - and turns it into a bittersweet chocolate libation.
Ingredients
30ml gin
20ml sweet vermouth
15ml Campari
7.5ml dark crème de cacao
3 dashes chocolate bitters
Orange wedge, for garnish
Grated Chocolate, for garnish
Method
In a mixing glass, stir together the gin, vermouth, Campari, crème de cacao and bitters with ice. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange wedge, grated chocolate and a plastic stirrer.
Find more cocktails like this in Nightcap.
Bloody Maria
The Bloody Marys Mexican counterpart is made with tequila and is as legitimate as the original, adding a bit more character and vegetal earthiness to the mix, making it the perfect brunch drink.
Ingredients
60ml reposade tequila
1 tsp drained bottled grated horseradish
3 dashes Tabasco sauce
3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1 dash of lime juice
3 dashes of salt
3 dashes of freshly ground pepper
150ml tomato juice
A lime wedge and a celery stalk, to garnish.
Method
Mix all the ingredients, except the tomato juice and garnish, in a Collins glass over ice and stir well. Top up with tomato juice and stir again. Garnish with a lime wedge and a celery stalk and serve.
Find more cocktails like this in Tequila made me do it.
